NEW DELHI: At 63, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been setting a cracking pace, clocking more than 100 rallies a month, even addressing up to five a day in the scorching heat of summer. So, any tips he might be able to pass on to fellow politicians pounding the India beat? Early morning yoga and a simple diet would be a start, apart from the small matter of a burning desire for the country's top political job.

Of course, there's more to the campaign than that, as became clear from detailed conversations ET had with people close to Team Modi and other BJP leaders. He's also constantly in touch with his war room and reacting rapidly to developments as aides feed him with information and suggestions on what to say.

Unlike the chaos that usually marks an Indian election campaign, a typical day in the life of Narendra Modi is a meticulously planned affair.

It starts at 5 am with yoga and a walk, followed by a quick reading of the day's newspapers. Breakfast is a plain dosa and fruits along with some Gujarati snacks. He then takes a chartered plane to his first destination of the day. He keeps himself informed about the latest news and developments until he reaches his destination.

If he's speaking, Modi is handed notes about any development that's taken place.

"He's given talking points with a heading before each speech by his team. These are on chits of paper and are always in Gujarati," a BJP leader told ET. Modi can be seen putting these slips of paper into his pocket after a quick reading on stage.

These points are worked into Modi's extempore speeches and are usually written up by AK Sharma, additional principal secretary in the Chief Minister's Office in Gandhinagar. K Kailashnathan, a former Gujarat bureaucrat and part of his team, also provides inputs for speeches, according to sources.

The need for legibility was emphasised by several people.

"He wants the notes and talking points to be in neat handwriting," a Modi aide said.

BJP leaders who've worked with Modi are in awe of his thorough planning.

"He is very methodical and can think with a cool head about various aspects of an issue and the likely ramifications of a decision. The credit for conceptualising several of our key campaigns and the creative thinking behind it goes to Modi," a party general secretary told ET.

Modi will call those organising his next rally if he's running late so that they can plan accordingly. He also makes sure that the leaders who have to speak at the rally have reached and don't keep him waiting.

He never eats out, especially since last year. His security was tightened after the blasts at a rally venue in Patna on October 27, 2013, which means his food needs to be checked and tasted. To avoid delays, the food for Modi and his team is carried on the plane.

"At times he skips lunch and has Gujarati snacks in the plane. Otherwise, his lunch comprises of thepla, curd and the usual meal of rice, chappatis, dal and vegetables," a BJP leader said. Interestingly, Modi never has anything cold, including water, even during summer as he copes with the inevitable hoarseness. "To deal with his sore throat that he got due to the speeches he has been delivering throughout the country, he has been drinking warm water," a BJP leader said. He is also using ayurvedic medicine to soothe his throat.

Modi is kept aware of the latest news and trends on social media through his IT team based in the Gujarat capital and headed by Hiren Joshi.

"He is wired in to his team in Gandhinagar about the latest developments, be it the speech of any member of the Nehru-Gandhi family or any other news that is breaking at the moment," said a party leader who was a part of his Sadhbhavna Yatra.

Modi also vets messages sent out under his handle.

"Tweets, which are to be sent in his name, are first messaged to him and after he approves, these are uploaded on his Twitter handle," a party source said.

Contact is maintained through calls and SMS messages. Always at his side is OP Singh, his Man Friday for the past several years. When Modi is busy in meetings or speaking, he's the one who takes the calls and writes down the messages. He may at times hand over the mobile for Modi to read longish messages sent by his close team.

The candidate prefers to get back home once his rallies are over, according to BJP leaders.

"But his day does not end after reaching Gandhinagar late in the night. He calls officers he wants to meet before reaching the city and meets them in the CMO. He also clears important files before retiring for the day," the sources said.

Dinner, like all the food he eats, is vegetarian -- kadi, Gujarati kichdi and a few other items. Still, he's said to eat better than Advani, who survives on just two rotis for lunch.

The candidate is usually in bed by 1 am, sources said. Then it starts all over again at 5 am the next day.